Watch guard or protector.



No. 635,6". Patented Oct. 24, I899.

W. S. SUTTON.

WATCH GUARD OR PROTECTOR.

v (Lpplicltion filed June 11, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Wiigzsses 5-. 98M310 My By M finorgcjs. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SAYRE SUTTON, OF BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS.

WATCH GUARD OR PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,611, d t d O t b 24, 1899.

Application filed June 11, 1898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SAYR-E SUT- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at -Belvidere, in the-county of Boone and State improve the construction of watch protectors and guards and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device adapted .to be readily mounted on the bow of the pendant of a Watch and capable of being automatically operated by the Weight of a watch to engage the lining of a pocket and prevent the watch from being abstracted therefrom.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a watch protector or guard constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken transversely of the bow and showing the normal arrangement of the hooks. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the hooks intheir engaging position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a pair of oppositely-disposed hooks mounted on the bow 2 of a watch-pendant and depending within the bow and provided at their lower ends with oppositely-disposed engaging portions or prongs 3, adapted when there is a strain on the watch-chain 4 to be projected outward for engaging the lining of a pocket, whereby the watch is prevented from being abstracted therefrom. The prongs or engaging portions 3 are pointed and extend upward at a slight angle to the shanksof the hooks and are adapted when thrown outward to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings to obtain a firm hold on the lining of the pocket.

The shanks of the hooks 1 are fulcrumed between their ends, being provided with registering openings 5 to receive the bow 2, and

Serial No. 683,206. (No model.)

the said shanks have their upper and lower arms 6 and 7 arranged at an angle to each other, as shown, so that the hooks operate like a bell-crank lover. The upper arms 6 of the shanks of the hooks diverge and are provvided with perforations or eyes 8, into which are linked a pair of upwardly-convergingconnecting-links 9, which engage an eye or link 10 of the watch-chain 4., whereby when there is a strain on the watch-chain the links 9 will swing the upper arms 6 upward and throw the lower engaging arms 7 outward.

The hooks, which are arranged flat against each other, as shown, are retained at a central point on the bow by a pair of collars 11, forming an annular groove or space between them to receive the hooks and adapted to be mounted on the bow in any suitable manner. One of the collars or enlargements can be permanently mounted on or formed integral with the bow, and the other may be detachably secured to the same, so that the parts can be readily assembled or separated, or the parts may be permanently attached to the bow with which the same is constructed.

In order to retain the hooks normally in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the hooks are 0011- nected with the inner ends 12 of a pair of coiled springs 13, disposed on the bow at the outer sides of the collars or enlargements 11 and having their outer ends 13 fixed to the said bow. The inner ends of the coiled springs engage the eyes or perforations 8 of the upper arms of the shanks of the hooks and operate to return the engaging portions 3 to their normal position after they have been thrown outward.

The invention has the following advantages: The Watch protector or guard, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, may be readily applied to any watch, and it is capable of automatic operation, and the engaging portions of the hooks are thrown outward when there is a strain on the watch-chain. As the springs, which are connected with the hooks, have not sufficient strength to retain the hooks in their normal position when the chain is subjected to the strain produced by the weight of the watch, it will be clear that the watch cannot possibly be removed from the pocket by taking hold of the chain without operating the device and causing the prongs or engaging portions 3 to take hold of the lining.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, such as arranging the parts to effect an ornamental design, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprisin, a pair of hooks fulcrumed between their ends and provided at the inner edges of their lower portions with prongs normally extend ing inward, said hooks having outwardlyprojecting upper portions, and links connected with the upper portions of the hooks and designed to be attached to a watch-chain and adapted when there is a strain on the latter to throw the engaging portions of the hooks outward to prevent a watch from being removed from a pocket, substantially as described. 1

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ring of a watch, of a pair of hooks fulcrumed thereon and having engaging lower portions or prongs extending in opposite directions, and normally disposed inwardly, said hooks being provided with diverging upper arms, and means for connecting the said arms with a watch-chain,whereby when there is a strain ion the latter, the engaging portions of the hooks will be thrown outward to prevent the watch from being removed from a pocket, substantially as de scribed.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the bow of a watch, of a pair of hooks fnlcrumed between their ends on the bow and having lower engaging por tions, coiled springs disposed on the bow at opposite sides of the hooks and connected with the upper arms of the same to maintain the hooks normally out of engagement, and means for connecting the upper arms of the hooks with a watch-chain, whereby the lower portions of the hooks will be swung outward when there is a strain on the watch-chain, substantially as described.

4. In a device of-the class described, the combination with the bow of a watch, of collars mounted on the bow and forming a space or groove between them, a pair of hooks fulorumed between their ends on the bow and located between the collars or enlargements, the upper arms of the hooks diverging out wardly, a ring designed to be connected to a watch-chain, a pair of outwardly-converging links connected with the ring and to the up per arms of the hooks, and springs mounted on the bow at opposite sides of the hooks and connected with the upper arms thereof to re tain the hooks normally out of engagement, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM SAYRE SUTTON. 

